One of pro-hockey’s golden couples, Andrew and Caryn Chadwick live in the limelight reserved for elite professional athletes. On their second anniversary, Andrew receives an unexpected contract offer to join the Tampa Suns. As they look forward to a new adventure, neither foresees an event that challenges their love and threatens their marriage.

Until it doesn’t.

A sudden and senseless accident threatens Andrew’s life and inexplicably drives a wedge between the couple. Shattered by the incident, paralyzed by fear that it could happen again, Caryn finds herself at odds with her husband and unable to provide the support he needs—at the time he is most vulnerable.

As their perfect world crumbles, each makes choices that take Andrew and Caryn further apart. Distrust, fears, and secrets construct walls. This Piece of My Soul follows the joint and separate paths the couple navigate as each hopes to rediscover the love that can conquer all.

Although This Piece of My Soul is the second book in the Clearing the Ice Series, it can be read as a standalone novel.

Caryn gasped when she saw the
gruesome bruise on Andrew’s leg. “Even with your pads?”

Caryn could tell by his expression
that he didn’t think it was a big deal. “Andrew, tell me again
why you are suddenly blocking shots like this.” She gingerly felt
the area around the bruise before Andrew pressed an ice pack against
it.

“Coach’s system. Everyone helps
out on defense. I gave up the puck in our own end. I wasn’t going
to hang Eckstrom out to dry. It’s nothing, Cary.”

She sat beside him on the side of
the bed. “It doesn’t make sense. Your line is the team’s top
scoring and you’re all blocking shots. What if you, John or Jason
break an arm or your leg? Is it worth it?”

Andrew glanced at her as he adjusted
the ice pack. “Everyone’s valuable to the team. We’re expected
to play the same system of defense.” He met her eyes. “I try to
block correctly. I just gave up the puck to the wrong person and paid
for it. I’ll be fine. I’ve seen worse in the locker room.”

“Well, I
don’t want to see worse, Drew.” Cary stood and walked into the
bathroom, returning with a hand towel. “Here, put this under the
ice pack. I’ll get you a fresh one in a few minutes.”

Andrew shifted until he was leaning
against the headboard, stretching out his legs on the bed. He patted
the mattress beside him. “Come give me a proper welcome home.”

“I don’t want you to make your
leg any worse.” Caryn bit back a smile as she walked around the
bed, dropping pieces of clothing as she moved. She saw his gaze
following each movement, and his eyes darkened when she scooted on
the bed beside him.

“Oh, I think we can manage,”
Andrew said as he pulled her toward him and kissed her, closing his
arms around her. “Yep, I’ve definitely missed this.” He shifted
until Caryn faced him.

Her leg brushed against the ice pack
and she jerked away. “This is not
going to work.”

Andrew reached for the pack and
towel and tossed them away from the bed. “Problem solved.” Caryn
opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off with a kiss. He held
her tightly against him, running his fingers lightly against her
skin. She tugged at his shirt as she slipped her hands against his
chest. He released her as he quickly shed the shirt, and then he
rolled her onto her back. “Now, where were we?” he said as he
kissed the side of her neck.

“Hmm, maybe thinking twice before
blocking the next shot.” Caryn bit back a smile as Andrew pulled
back, his expression reflecting his impatience.

“That’s not what I was thinking.
But if that’s what you want…”

Caryn cut him off before he could
complete the thought. She grasped his neck with both hands and pulled
him toward her, her mouth seeking his. Capturing his kiss, she
brushed her hands across his shoulders and back. Her fingers teased
the waistband of his gym shorts. Andrew broke off the kiss to move
his lips to her neck, gently nibbling at the skin on her lobe.

By the time she was an eight-year-old tomboy growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Robyn M. Ryan definitely knew what she wanted to do when she grew up—play major league baseball or write. She wrote throughout elementary and high school, first composing novels featuring favorite TV and music personalities, and then venturing into sports writing.

Attending UGA’s journalism school launched her career in public relations, which included an internship with the Atlanta Flames NHL hockey team. With the encouragement of a writers group on twitter—WritersThatChat—This Piece of My Heart, a hockey romance, and the first book in Robyn’s series Clearing the Ice was published May 2016. The second book in the series, This Piece of My Soul, introduces the Tampa Suns professional hockey team.

Besides writing, Robyn’s passions include following the New York Rangers, NASCAR, and the Atlanta Braves; splitting time between homes in Atlanta and Palm Coast, and visiting Paris as often as possible. Two brilliant Westies rule both homes.

As do many writers, Robyn chooses to write using a pseudonym—hers is a combination of her sons’ names, a contribution from her youngest nephew.

Event I'm attending!

I'm going to Rome!

Reviewer

Reviewer

How many stars?

When posting a review, I don't usually add a star rating. That is something I do as part of cross-posting on Goodreads and Amazon. If you like stars, then all reviews I post would be at least 3 stars or above. Meaning, I enjoyed the book.